In the fall of this year, four states across the nation–Minnesota, Washington State, Maryland, Maine–voters will participate in ballot initiatives concerning marriage equality this fall. Catholic voters will play a key role in each of these contests.

Catholics supportive of marriage equality initiatives–which we know is the majority of Catholics–can participate in several upcoming events in three of those individual states: Minnesota, Washington State, Maryland.

MINNESOTA

Catholics for Marriage Equality–Minnesota is sponsoring a gathering on Wednesday evening, August 15, 2012, 7:00-8:30 pm to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption and to inspire Catholics to speak the primacy of their conscience. The gathering will take place in Loring Park, 1382 Willow St., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403. The event will premiere a music video in which over 300 Catholics and friends sing a “For All the Children,” a hymn of love and inclusivity written by David Lohman. More information can be found on the event’s Facebook page. (DignityUSA is a partner for this event.)

WASHINGTON STATE

Sister Jeannine Gramick

New Ways Ministry’s Sister Jeannine Gramick, co-founder, and Francis DeBernardo, executive director, will be speaking at two separate events to promote Catholic support for marriage equality.

The first event will be held on Tuesday, August 21, 2012, 7:00-9:00 pm, The United Churches of Olympia, 110 – 11th Avenue SE, Olympia, Washington, 98501. This event is co-sponsored by Call To Action–Western Washington and The United Churches of Olympia.

The second event , sponsored by Call To Action–Western Washington, will be held on Wednesday, August 22, 2012, 7:00-8:30 pm, St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral (Bloedel Hall), 1245 10th Avenue East, Seattle, Washington 98102. Washington State Senator Ed Murray, a Catholic will join them at this event.

Catholics for Marriage Equality–Maryland is sponsoring a voter education program and two community forums.

The voter education program will take place on Sunday, August 26, 2012, St. Matthew Parish, 6:00-8:00 pm, 5401 Loch Raven Boulevard Baltimore, Maryland 21239. Maryland State Delegate Heather Mizeur, a Catholic, is a speaker at this event.

The first community forum will be held Saturday, September 29, 2012, 10:00 am-1:00 pm, Greenbelt Community Church, corner of Crescent and Hillside Roads, Greenbelt, Maryland 20770.

The second community forum will be held Saturday, October 6, 2012, 10:00 am-1:00 pm, Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Greenbelt, Maryland 2085o. Maryland State Delegate Heather Mizeur, a Catholic, is the featured speaker at this event.

Catholics for Marriage Equality–Minnesota turned their pro-LGBT message into song recently, when they gathered 300 singers together to do a rendition of “For the Children,” a pro-diversity anthem penned by David Lohman, who works for the Institute of Welcoming Resources, a project of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

You can listen to the fruits of their labors, along with an interview with Lohman, by watching this video:

Catholics for Marriage Equality–Minnesota is working to defeat the proposed constitutional amendment for their state which will be on the ballot in November.